FMU Black Male College Explorers Program receives AT&T grant

President Henry Lewis III and AT&T Florida President Marshall Criser poses with graduates of FMU’s Black Male College Explorers Program.

Submitted by LaNedra Carroll

MIAMI GARDENS, FL – The Florida Memorial University (FMU) Black Male College Explorers Program (BMCEP) has been awarded a $50,000 grant from AT&T that will help underwrite tutoring services, staff and activities geared toward one purpose: enhancing the skills and life trajectory of Black male students. “At FMU, we refuse to believe the notion that ‘not all people’ are college material,” said Kareem Coney, BMCEP director. “We thank AT&T for assisting us in opening a door of opportunity to expose these young men to the resources that will help them achieve upward mobility and become successful contributors to their families and communities.”

BMCEP boasts a 100-percent high-school graduation rate and helps usher participants into college or the workforce. The grant helps support and strengthens a vital constituency. “We at AT&T believe that success in high school and college is critical to a competitive, successful workforce,” said Tee Holloway, regional director-External Affairs, AT&T Florida. “We are pleased to be able to partner with Florida Memorial University through BMCEP to support students in pursuit of higher education.”

Established in 1992, BMCEP at FMU is designed to assist 40 talented and disadvantaged young Black males annually in the Miami-Dade County Public School System who are at-risk of dropping out of school, becoming unemployable and/or ending up in the criminal-justice system. The program has a proven track record of increasing the number of participants who graduate from high school and college. The program also offers a five-week residential component that focuses on academic, cultural and recreational programs and activities. “We are grateful to AT&T for providing this grant that will fund a program that continually makes a significant impact on our community,” said Adriene Wright, Ph.D., vice president for Institutional Advancement. “We are charged to equip the next generation of Black males with the tools they need to develop their promise and create bright futures. This grant helps us achieve that aim.”

Program goals include increasing participants’ grade-point averages, high-school graduate rates and college admission rates. The program also seeks to help participants develop marketability skills and positive behaviors through engagements, programming and field trips.

For more information about the program, contact Kareem Coney, BMCEP director at (305) 626-3108 or Kareem.Coney@FMUniv.edu.